Gloria Elaine (Chaffin) Makey passed away in Smith Center, Kansas, on Monday, June 30, 2025, in her home surrounded by love and family. She was born in Julesburg, CO, to Dwight Fredrick and Maxine Lorraine (Elliott) Chaffin, the youngest of four children.
Gloria graduated from Holyoke High School in Colorado and was later married. Two daughters, Roxanne and Melanie, were born to this union. Later, Gloria pursued a career in nursing at Nebraska Western College in Scottsbluff, NE, where she became a Registered Nurse. Her career in healthcare was both broad and meaningful serving as a nurse, Director of Nursing, and Clinical Research Coordinator. She held various other roles throughout her life, each a testament to her versatility. Gloria was known for her strong work ethic and willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
A woman of many talents, Gloria found joy in gardening, canning, crafting, crocheting, baking, reading, making cards, coloring, and painting. Music was a key part of her life. Gloria played the piano and French horn, directed choirs, and participated in other musical activities within the church and community. She poured her heart into everything she did, most of all into her family. Whether cheering at a sports event, attending a school play or program, helping with a fair project, or supporting her grandchildren’s creative and educational projects, Gloria was a constant, loving presence to her grandchildren.
Her deepest hope was for her family to know and follow Jesus and for her grandkids to have a special memory to remember her by. Such treasures will include her cream puffs at special events, quilts at graduations, special birthday cards, Christmas scavenger hunts, birdhouse gourds for class, and hand-painted pictures.
In her later years, Gloria was surrounded by neighbors who became dear friends. She loved playing cards and bingo, doing puzzles, gardening, and chatting with those in her Gothenburg and Smith Center communities.
She is survived by her sister, Sharon Macklin of Smith Center, KS; a sister-in-law, Pat (Chaffin) Supak of Bryan, TX; two daughters, Roxanne Converse-Whiting (Memory) of Gothenburg, NE, and Melanie (Marion) Schlatter of Lebanon, KS; nine grandchildren, Kim (Alex) Jorgenson of Gothenburg, NE, AJ (Dallin) Whiting of Stillwater, OK, Tyler Whiting of Phoenix, AZ, Abigail Schlatter, Nathan “Leonard” Schlatter, Jonny Schlatter, Ethan Schlatter, Zach Schlatter, and Asher Schlatter, all of Smith Center, KS; three great-grandchildren, Bowe and Baker Jorgenson of Gothenburg, NE, and Ledger Whiting of Stillwater, OK.
She is also survived by a son-in-law, Jeff Whiting of Gothenburg, NE; her niece Sharolyn Valdez of Weldona, CO; her nephews, Harvey (Kim) Macklin of Mountain City, TN, and Chris (Amber) Chaffin of Aurora, CO; and other family members including great nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Dwight and Maxine Chaffin; her brothers, Ronald “Ronnie” Chaffin and Dwight “Mickey” Chaffin; her granddaughter, Sarah Schlatter; and several beloved pets.
She will be deeply missed by all who loved her, and she leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to benefit veterans through Peace Mountain Ranch, a ministry started by Gloria’s nephew, Harvey.
To learn about this ministry, visit www.peacemtnranch.org.